USIAD to co-fund for 11,000 new water pumps

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is planning to co-fund for replacement of 11,000 water pumps by end of this year which will save an estimated 45 megawatts of electricity, say sources.According to sources familiar with the matter, Tube Well Efficiency Improvement Programme is focused on improving pumping efficiency of tube wells in Pakistan. Funding for this activity is US$ 13.6 million. For replacement of water pumps with efficient models 40 per cent electricity consumption could be reduced and it will also help reduce farmer’s electricity bills by Rs 650 million annually.The sources said US government, through USAID, was sponsoring replacement of several thousands of inefficient pumps that farmers use to extract irrigation water.However; the United States had refused to extend its $ 18.5 energy program to provide agriculture tube wells at subsidized rates to Balochistan province due to nonpayment of electricity bills by farmers.It is worth mentioning the program offers a 50% subsidy to farmers to replace their pump-sets. The project is closely associated with the DISCOs (power distributions), Farmer Groups, local trade associations, and 8 major Pakistani Pump Suppliers (Certified to ISO Standard 9906 for cold water pumps).